If you visit the less affluent parts of any developing country, you’re sure to find used and condemned tires dotting the landscape, making the city ugly. Disposing of these useless tires becomes a big problem for the authorities. Something similar was happening in Lagos, Nigeria.
Lagos is known for its beautiful beach resorts, quality boutiques, and happening nightlife. However, the city also has its share of carelessly disposed of condemned tires that spoil the cityscape. Despite the initiative being taken by certain companies to recycle these tires and use them to make shoes and other items, they continue to remain an eyesore.
Nkwocha Ernest, a Lagos-based artist, took it upon himself to beautify his city by turning this ugly mess of worn out and discarded tires into something creative. He hit upon the idea of turning them into rubber sculptures.
Sculpting rubber from old worn out tires isn’t easy, but it’s to Ernest’s credit that he found ways to make the tires malleable enough to be molded into the desired forms. Having mastered the skills of tire sculpting, he devotes hours to create his art pieces, stage by stage. And his passion is quite evident in his works.
Ernest’s creations of a crocodile, a jumping ox, a long-eared rabbit, a gorilla, and many others seem almost lifelike. And why not, he spends hours informing them by heating up the tire rubber and uses his vivid imagination to give a precise shape to his sculptures. It’s really incredible that he’s able to accomplish this since tires are tough and are designed to sustain the daily wear and tear of running on the road.
Little wonder his art is making waves on the internet and gaining a lot of appreciation for all and sundry after it was introduced by a social media user on Twitter.
Dear Twitter,
Can we please make this guy go Viral
His name is Nkwocha Ernest, He resides in Lagos
He makes Arts with used/Condemned Tyres
Please RT to inspire someone pic.twitter.com/r2AqZERp3i
— Josh Euronaire 🤙 (@Euronaire) March 17, 2019
See Some Of His Work Images Below:
Nkwocha Ernest
If a had the money to buy your art, I would
If I had a place to put it, I would
I don’t.
So I hope someone out there falls in awe of your work, like I have, but have the means to buy from you, and place on display.
Many thnx for the visual delight.
Awesome – should be showing at the RHS Flower, Garden Shows. Environmental, and ‘way’ to go, towards we should be heading. Exciting concepts. Love his work. Bravo.